SAN ANTONIO – On Monday, President Donald Trump broke his silence on the killings of four American soldiers in Niger, saying he had written personalized letters to family members and planned to call them later this week. But, Trump didn't stop there.
"The traditional way -- if you look at President Obama and other presidents, most of them didn't make calls -- a lot of them didn't make calls," Trump said. "I like to call when it's appropriate when I think i'm able to do it. They have made the ultimate sacrifice."
The remarks didn't sit well with Spurs coach Gregg Popovich who shared his thoughts with Dave Zirin of the Nation. Zirin transcribed Popovich's remarks.
I’ve been amazed and disappointed by so much of what this President had said, and his approach to running this country, which seems to be one of just a never ending divisiveness. But his comments today about those who have lost loved ones in times of war and his lies that previous presidents Obama and Bush never contacted their families, is so beyond the pale, I almost don’t have the words. This man in the Oval Office is a soulless coward who thinks that he can only become large by belittling others. This has of course been a common practice of his, but to do it in this manner–and to lie about how previous Presidents responded to the deaths of soldiers–is as low as it gets. We have a pathological liar in the White House: unfit intellectually, emotionally, and psychologically to hold this office and the whole world knows it, especially those around him every day. The people who work with this President should be ashamed because they know it better than anyone just how unfit he is, and yet they choose to do nothing about it. This is their shame most of all.
Zirin said Popovich told him "please just let me talk and please make sure this is on the record” before he went off on the president.
After sharing his take, Zirin said Popovich ended with a short, “Bye, Dave.”
Here are a few stand out quotes from Zirin's interview:
"This man in the Oval Office is a soulless coward who thinks that he can only become large by belittling others."
"We have a pathological liar in the White House: unfit intellectually, emotionally, and psychologically to hold this office and the whole world knows it, especially those around him every day."
"The people who work with this President should be ashamed because they know it better than anyone just how unfit he is, and yet they choose to do nothing about it."